Winter Solstice ~ Pratyahara and going within

"Ajna" 2016 mixed media painting

In just a few days, the Northern Hemisphere will be settling into the shortest day and longest night of the year, a special time known as the Winter Solstice. This day marks the midpoint between the seasons of fall and spring; a dark and quiet time to dream up possibilities for the new solar year. In temperate climates, the stark appearance of bare trees, pale grass, and less wildlife about signifies the natural world itself seeming to have entered into a restful hibernation mode. With the busyness of the bright and festive holiday season, creating time to flow with the natural pace of slowing down, and connecting to the ever present silence and stillness within, can be a helpful way to bring the mind and body back to center.

The yogic practice of Pratyahara is noted as the fifth limb in Sri Patanjali's 8 limbs of Yoga. Pratyhara can be translated as "withdrawal of the senses" or "gathering towards", as in gathering one's focus inward. In this context, the stimulating sights, sounds, etc. of the external world are temporarily left behind for the sensations of the internal world. Attention is focused on inner experiences, such as the feeling of breath moving through the body. In time, a practice of shifting focus from the outside can lead to a less distracted mind and a more grounded, aware sense of being.

During this time of year, incorporating the stillness of more yin postures into yoga on the mat feels very natural to me. I have noticed my physical practice slow down and allow time for longer, more meditative holds with different asanas. Yin yoga is based on the Taoist principle of Yin; a universal quality expressed in ways such as cold, dark, still, receptive, and quiet. Instead of flowing through a heat building Vinyasa practice (a very active/Yang form of yoga), Yin yoga allows time for the practitioner to settle into the stillness of a posture, holding and exploring it's shape for some time. This is not always an easy and comfortable practice; physical, emotional, and mental discomfort may come to the surface. However, Yin yoga specifically makes time and space to be present and breathe with these uncomfortable parts of the inner world, a great example of practicing pratyahara.

With the yin qualities of quiet, cold, and darkness present during the longest night of the year, the Winter Solstice is an invitation to explore the hidden wisdom and stillness within. If you are inspired to align with this current season, be sure to make time for silence and reflection in your own way. Tune in and be present with the mind, heart space, and physical body without judgment, just awareness and breath. Please be gentle and "enjoy the silence" ;)